Dependency Advocacy Center
Dependency Advocacy Center
Want to make a donation using Daffy?
Lower your income taxes with a charitable deduction this year when you donate to this non-profit via Daffy.
Do you work for Dependency Advocacy Center? Learn more here.
About this organization
Mission
PROVIDE ZEALOUS LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT CLIENTS IN JUVENILE DEPENDENCY SYSTEM.
About
DEPENDENCY COURT PROGRAM: DEPENDENCY ADVOCACY CENTER (DAC) IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION SERVING INDIGENT PARENTS AND CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE DEPENDENCY SYSTEM IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. DAC'S PRIMARY ACTIVITY IS THE PROVISION OF COURT-APPOINTED LEGAL REPRESENTATION, FREE OF CHARGE, TO INDIGENT PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN JUVENILE DEPENDENCY COURT IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY. IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, WHEN A CHILD IS AT RISK OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT, OR WHEN THERE ARE SUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS OF SUCH, THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES FILES A PETITION WITH THE COURT REQUESTING THAT THE CHILD EITHER BE REMOVED FROM THE HOME OR REMAIN IN THE HOME WITH COURT SUPERVISION. APPROXIMATELY 60 PERCENT OF THESE PETITIONS INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF PARENTAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND MANY INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND/OR GENERAL NEGLECT. EACH PARENT IS ENTITLED TO AN ATTORNEY IF THEY REQUEST ONE. IF THE PARENT IS INDIGENT, THE COURT APPOINTS AN ATTORNEY FOR THAT PARENT AT NO COST TO THE PARENT. THE CHILD IS ALSO APPOINTED AN ATTORNEY, FREQUENTLY AT NO COST TO THE FAMILY. AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2008, BY CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA (JCC), DAC IS THE PROVIDER OF THESE LEGAL SERVICES. DAC REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 1200 INDIGENT PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S SUPERIOR COURT, AS WELL AS IN ITS THERAPEUTIC DRUG TREATMENT COURT (DEPENDENCY WELLNESS COURT), WHICH IS A SUBSET OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S DEPENDENCY COURT SYSTEM, ENGAGING IN MORE SPECIALIZED AND HOLISTIC DEPENDENCY SOLUTIONS. DAC'S STAFF ATTORNEYS PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FREE OF CHARGE THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE CASE, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION AT UNCONTESTED HEARINGS, MEDIATIONS, TRIALS, AND SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES. IN ITS CLIENT REPRESENTATION, DAC UTILIZES AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH WHICH IN ADDITION TO AN ATTORNEY, MAY INCLUDE A MENTOR PARENT AND A SOCIAL WORKER. ALONG WITH THE DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN, DAC PARTICIPATES IN MONTHLY MEETINGS DURING WHICH THE DEPENDENCY COURT STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGE IN OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POLICY ISSUES AND COLLABORATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRACTICES FOR SERVING FAMILIES IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. DAC ALSO PARTICIPATES IN TRAININGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND RELATED TO DEPENDENCY, INCLUDING TRAININGS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, CHILD ADVOCATES, AND MEDIATORS. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF OPERATION, DAC MADE GREAT STRIDES IN ESTABLISHING ITSELF AS AN IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDER IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S JUVENILE DEPENDENCY SYSTEM. DAC ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT AND ZEALOUS IN THEIR CLIENT ADVOCACY WHICH HAS LED TO A MORE FREQUENT USE OF EXPERTS AND AN INCREASE IN DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR THEIR CLIENTS BOTH AT TRIAL AND THROUGH SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS. DAC HAS TAKEN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN VARIOUS COMMITTEES TO IMPROVE SERVICES PROVIDED TO OUR CLIENTS AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING AND PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND STATE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, DAC'S SUPERVISORS, ATTORNEYS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND MENTORS HAVE TAKEN ACTIVE STEPS TOWARD EDUCATING PROFESSIONALS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE DEPENDENCY SYSTEM.
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
From their filing, the objective of the non-profit is stated as “Dependency advocacy center (dac) provides zealous legal representation to indigent clients in the juvenile dependency system to promote timely reunification and preservation of families in a safe, healthy environment. dac believes that every parent and child entering the dependency system has a right to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.”.
When talking about its functions, they were outlined as: “Provide zealous legal representation to indigent clients in juvenile dependency system.”.
- The legally reported state of operation for the non-profit is CA.
- According to the filing, the non-profit's address in 2020 is 31 N SECOND STREET NO 300, SAN JOSE, CA, 95113.
- The non-profit organization as of 2020 has a total of 38 employees reported on their form.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue is greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue less expenses is -$336,393.
- The organization has 6 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 2008.
- The organization pays $2,554,539 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $92,494 in fundraising expenses.
Additional Non-Profits in the area
By donating on this page you are making an irrevocable contribution to Daffy Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, and a subsequent donation recommendation to the charity listed above, subject to our Member Agreement. Contributions are generally eligible for a charitable tax-deduction and a yearly consolidated receipt will be provided by Daffy. Processing fees may be applied and will reduce the value available to send to the end charity. The recipient organizations have not provided permission for this listing and have not reviewed the content.
Donations to organizations are distributed as soon as the donation is approved and the funds are available. In the rare event that Daffy is unable to fulfill the donation request to this charity, you will be notified and given the opportunity to choose another charity. This may occur if the charity is unresponsive or if the charity is no longer in good standing with regulatory authorities.